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VOL. XXX NO. 154 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 SATURDAY : JULY 16, 2016 www.thestandard.com.ph editorial@thestandard.com.ph

TRUCK ATTACK KILLS 84 IN FRANCE

NO CONCESSIONS Philippines won’t budge on PCA awards

By John Paolo Bencito and Macon Ramos-Araneta

THE Office of the Solicitor General said Friday the Philippines will use diplomacy to resolve its conflict with China but “will not concede any of the awards given” by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), which rejected Beijing’s “nine-dash line” claims over most of the South China Sea.

“The negotiations must respect the decision that was made. We will still use diplomacy as a first option, because we are neighbors with China,” Solicitor General Jose Calida said, adding that the Philippines will not sacrifice what it has obtained from the decision but “will also pursue diplomatic means... to convince China that we can co-exist peacefully.” Calida said the PCA confirmed that no one state could claim an entire sea. “The award is a historic win, not only for the Philippines… It renews human-

ity’s faith in a rules-based global order,” Calida said. “The award opens a horizon of possibilities for all stakeholders. The award is a crowning glory of international law,” he added. President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday night said he was considering backchannel talks and suggested he might name former President Fidel V. Ramos as a special envoy to China. Calida declined to say how long the Philippines would rely on diplomacy to settle its differences with China.

“We should understand [China’s] sentiments. That’s why we are still using the diplomatic card at this time... I believe this is the more peaceful way of settling this problem. We cannot put arbitrary timeframes,” he said. “We will be patient, of course, and hopefully China will also show the same grace that we have shown when we did not, as wanted by some sectors of society, gloat about this ruling. It’s a sober approach to having won this momentous, monumental case,” he added. Next page

Counsel of state. President Rodrigo Duterte confers with former President Fidel Ramos on a private matter during a testimonial dinner the San Beda College of Law hosted for Duterte, who is the first San Beda alumni to become president of the Philippines. Duterte later announced that he asked Ramos to help the country in bilateral talks with China over the recent ruling of The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration. AFP

MORE SAF RELATIVES SUE AQUINO and Felecitas Nacino, mother of PO2 Nicky Nacino—were acTHREE other relatives of the Spe- companied by their lawyer, Ferdicial Action Force troopers killed nand Topacio and Dante Jimenez, in the covert Mamasapano op- founding chairman of the Voleration in January 2015 filed com- unteers Against Crime and Corplaints of homicide against former ruption in the filing of the three President Benigno Aquino III be- counts of reckless imprudence refore the Office of the Ombudsman sulting in multiple homicide. Included in the charge sheet were on Friday. dismissed Philippine National PoThe complainants—Julie Faustino Danao, mother of PO2 Wal- lice chief Alan Purisima and former ner Danao; Celestino Kiangan, SAF head Getulio Napeñas. PO2 Danao was the SAF memfather of PO2 Noble Kiangan,

By Rio N. Araja

ber who figured in a viral video showing him being kicked in the head and stripped naked by a member of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters after a botched operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao. Topacio said five other kin of the slain SAF troopers will come forward to file the same complaints. “We have a logistical problem. If only I have my way, I would want all of them to file this month,” he added. Next page

‘DUTERTE CAN BE NAIA INSPECTOR’

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to take commercial flights in regularly shuttling between Manila and Davao will allow him to personally check on the improvements done on the the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, said Senator Ralph Recto. If Duterte board flights in the Naia terminal, Recto said, it will serve as a “presidential inspection” of the nation’s premier air gateway. “If he become a suki [regular customer] of Naia, then he can see for himself if services are being improved,” Recto said. “He will also see first hand the things that need to be done.” Next page